Karnataka High Court Intervenes to Prevent Transport Strike
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued an interim order restraining the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Employees and its constituents from proceeding with the proposed transport strike scheduled to begin on May 20. The order was passed in response to a resolution adopted by the unions on April 29, 2026.
A vacation division bench comprising Justices Suraj Govindaraj and K Manmadha Rao passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by C Vedavathi, a homemaker, and HV Sreedhara, both residents of Bengaluru. The petitioners stated that they depend on public transport for their daily commuting and would be severely affected by the strike.
Court Orders Notice to State Government and Transport Corporations
The division bench also ordered notice to the state government and the four state-owned transport corporations: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). The court sought their responses to the PIL.
The interim order effectively halts the strike action, ensuring that public transport services remain uninterrupted for commuters across the state. The matter is expected to be heard further, with the court likely to consider the arguments of all parties involved.
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